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Congressman Adriano Espaillat Files Disciplinary Grievance Against New York Attorney Following Outcry from Constituents

May 17, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), joined by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., sent a letter and filed a formal legal complaint to the Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Department of the New York State Unified Court System against New York attorney identified as Aaron Schlossberg following a viral racist rant captured online after numerous calls and engagement from constituents.

"The statements made by this attorney at a New York restaurant serves as further proof of the wave of intolerance that is running rampant across our country," said Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). "This individual has had a troubling history of hateful behavior, while the White House is sending a clear message that you can say anything and get away with it. The Trump Administration's proposed policies that would tear immigrant children away from their families and most recently calling individuals animals is simply outrageous. We are sending this grievance to say that you cannot engage in xenophobia, bigotry, hate and get away with it. Such behavior should never be tolerated."

"Racism and hatred have no place in New York State, and certainly no place in our justice system. I stand with Congressman Espaillat in calling for the disciplinary committee of the New York State Unified Court System to examine the attorney identified as Aaron Schlossberg's reprehensible behavior and review his law license for possible revocation," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

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First elected to Congress in 2016, Rep. Adriano Espaillat is serving his first term in Congress where he serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the House Select Committee on Small Business. He is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and serves in a leadership role as CHC Freshman Representative to the Democratic Caucus. He is also chairman of the CHC Task Force for Transportation, Infrastructure and Housing. Rep. Espaillat's Congressional District includes Harlem, East Harlem, northern Manhattan and the north-west Bronx. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at /.

Media inquiries: Candace Randle Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov